Musical instrument construction



March'4, 1952 A, FlNDER 2,588,101

I MUSICAL INSTRUMENT CONSTRUCTION Filed July 15} 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET lINVENTOR.

. GEORGE A. FINDER AGENT March 4, 1952 G. AzFINDER 2,588,101

MUSI CAL INSTRUMENT CONSTRUCTION Filed July 15, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 2FIG. 5

INVENTOR. GEORGE A. FINDER AGENT Patented Mar. 4, 1952 MUSICALINSTRUMENT CONSTRUCTION George A. Finder, San Diego, Calif., assignor toFin-der Inc., San Diego, Calif.

; ApplicationJuly 15, 1950, Serial No. 174,095

. 12 Claims. 1

My invention relates to a musical: instrument construction, moreparticularlyto the construction of stringed musical instruments, and theobjects of my invention are:

First, to provide a "musical instrument construction which promotesinjection molding of various musical instruments of plastic material;

Second, to provide a musical instrument construction in which a completestringed musical instrument may be formed of two castings by addition ofstrings and keys;

Third, to provide a musical instrument construction of this class havingvery fine acoustical arrangement when constructed of two plasticcastings;

Fourth, to provide a musical instrument construction of this class whichprovides an instrument which is :very durable, impervious to water andnumerous solvents, and which will withstand very great temperaturevariations;

Fifth, to provide a musical instrument construction of this class havingnovel top and integral bridge construction for holding the strings ofthe musical instrument;

Sixth, to provide a musicalinstrument construction of this class havinga novel key-holding. structure in the head thereof;

Seventh, to provide a musical instrument construction of this classhavingnovel reinforcing structure cast therein which permits theinstrument to be very light .in weight in proportion to its strength;

Eighth, to provide amusical instrument construction of this class inwhich the neck is integral with the body and the finger board isintegral with the top, providing a structure which is very easy toassemble, promoting economy of manufacture;

Ninth, to provide amusical instrument construction of this class inwhich the musical instrument is substantially completed by the assemblyof two castings, having novel indexing flanges which provide accurateinterengagement of the two castings, which greatly facilitates theassembly thereof; and

Tenth, to provide a musical instrument construction of this class whichis very simple and economical, efficient, durable, and which will notreadily deteriorate or get out of order.

. With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, myinvention consists of certain novelfeatures "of construction,combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will behereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in theappended-claims,"reference bethe characters of reference thereon,forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. l is a top or plan view of a musical instrument, more particularlya ukulele, incorporating my musical instrument construction; Fig. 2 is alongitudinal-sectional view thereof, taken from the line 22 of Fig. 1;Fig. 3 isan enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken from the line 3-3of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a top or plan view of the lower body casting of mymusical instrument construction; Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of theupper top and finger board casting of my musical. instrumentconstruction; Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, takenfrom the line 6-B of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectionalview, takenirom the .line 1-1 of Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is anenlargedfragmentary sectional view, taken from the line 8-8 of Fig. 5; Fig. 9 isa fragmentary sectional view, taken from the line 99 of Fig. 8; and Fig.10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken from the line l0l0of Fig. 1.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portionsthroughout the severalviews of the drawings.

. In my musical instrument construction, I. have provided two separatecastings, which are preferably made by the injection molding process,and of plastic material. One of. the castings, .as shown in Fig. 4 ofthe drawings, incorporatesthe musical instrument body I, having anintegral arcuate in cross-section neck 2, which includes akey-supporting head portion 3. The other casting, shown in Fig. 5 of thedrawings, incorporates a top 4, having an integral finger board portion5,, and cover. portion 6, provided with projecting key-receiving bossesl, which are integral therewith. ,Spaced from the outer outline edgeportions of the top casting 4 are angular flange portionsB, shown indetail in Fig. 10 of the drawings, which-engage the internal side wallportions 9 of the body I, greatly facilitating the assembly of thecastings l and 4, and strengthening the structural connection thereof.

It will be noted that the spacing of the angular flange 8 from the outeredge H] of the top casting 4, as shown in Fig-10 of the drawings, isequal to the thickness of the side wall ll of-the body casting I, all asshown best in Fig. .10 .of thedrawings. It will be noted that the topcasting 4 and. body casting areassembled byproviding, a .coatingofsolvent cement adjacent the flange 8, so that after assembly thecastings l and 4 become substantially integral. The assemmy of thecastings I and 4 is therefore very simple, and requires only theplacement of the cement on the outer side of the flange 8 preliminary tothe fitting of the top casting 4 on to the body casting I, shown indetail in Fig. of the drawings. During the assembly of the top casting 4with the body casting I, solvent cement is placed on the ends of thebosses I which abut the head portion 3 of the body casting I, shown bestin Fig. 3 of the drawing. Thus, the bosses I are adhered to the headportion 3, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, then the bushing I2 ispressed into the opening I3 in the head portion 3, and forced into theboss I. A metal eyelet I4 is pressed into the opening I5 in the boss I,and the key holding structure is complete.

Reference is made to my co-pending application for String Holding Keyfor Musical Instruments, Serial No. 155 031, filed April 10. 1950, nowmatured into U. S. Patent No. 2,583,478, dated January 22, 1952, whichdiscloses the details of the keys IB and bushin s I3 in relationship tothe head of a musical instrument.

The neck portion 2 of the body casting I, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6 ofthe drawings, is arcuate in cross-section and is provided with aplurality of longitudinal stiifeners I1, which are integral with theneck portion 2 and with the chordshaped transverse stiffeners I8,providing rigidity of the neck portion 2 of the body casting I. It willbe noted that the middle longitudinal stiifener I'I extends to the bodyportion of the body casting I, and is inte ral with a transversepartition 36, which is disposed at the transition between the neckportion 2 and the body portion of the body casting I. This middlereinforcing portion I1 extends beyond said partition 36, as shown inFig. 2 of the drawings, and is integral with the bottom I9 of the bodycasting I, shown best in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It will be noted thatthis reinforcing portion I1 provides rigidity of the neck 2 forsupporting strings under tension on the musical instrument.

In the body casting I, integral with the bottom I9 thereof, and extendinthe full length of the bottom I9, is a reinforcing rib 20, which is inalignment with the reinforcing rib I I and transversely of thisreinforcing rib are the reinforcing ribs 2I and 22, all of which servesto stiffen the back I9 of the body member I.

The top casting 4, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, is provided witha plurality of reinforcing ribs 23, which extend laterally of thelongitudinal axis of the top casting 4, at opposite sides of the soundhole 24, and interconnecting these ribs 23 are secondary reinforcingribs 25 at opposite sides of the sound hole 24, at an acute angle to thelongitudinal axis of the top casting 4. Surrounding the sound hole 24 isa reinforcing rib 26, which is annular, as shown best in Figs. 2 and 5of the drawings. The top casting 4 is provided with an integralstring-holdin bridge 21, shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings in' section,and in detail in Figs. 8 and 9. This string-holding bridge issubstantially channelshaped in cross-section and is integral with thetop casting 4, and is provided with string-supporting slots 28, whichextend through the normally upper portion thereof and through the rearside wall of said channel-shaped in crosssection bridge 21. These slots28 are each provided with an enlarged portion 29, through which the knotends of strings may be inserted during the stringing of the instrument.It will be noted that the channel-shaped in cross-section bridge 21 isopen inwardly of the musical instrument, as shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings, providing room for the insertion of a knot on the strings 3B,which engage the bar 3| of the bridge 21 in their extended relationshiptoward the keys I6, to which they are connected at their opposite ends.

The neck portion 5 of the .top casting 4 is provided with accuratelygraduated finger-board frets 32, which are integral therewith and raisedabove the upper surface 33 of the top casting 4. At the extreme end ofthe finger-board of the neck portion 5 is an integral nut 34, over whichthe strings pass in angular relationship to the keys I6. As shown inFig. 4 of the drawings, and in detail in Fig. 7, the body casting sidewall portions are provided with reinforcing ribs 35, which are integralwith the side Walls I I and the back I 9, for stifiening theconstruction of the body casting I at the transition of said side wallsII and back I9.

The operation of my musical instrument construction is substantially asfollows:

When the top casting 4 has been cemented to the body casting I, ashereinbefore described, and when the keys I6 are in place as shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the strings 30 may be provided withknotted portions near their ends, which may be inserted through theenlarged openings 29 in the bridge 21, then the strings may be pulledover the bar 3| and the nut 34 to a position in connected relationshipwith the keys I6, whereupon they may be tightened to the proper pitch.When the stresses in the strings 30 reach the desired value to providetone pitch, the various reinforcing ribs within the body casting I andtop casting 4 resist deflection of the neck of the musical instrumentrelative to the body thereof.

The arcuate cross-section neck portion 2 of the body member I providesstructural strength in its integral cemented relationship with thefinger-board neck portion 5 of the top casting 4. The flange 8, as shownin Fig. 10, which extends completely around the outline of theinstrument, provides additional stifiening therefor, and the integralconstruction provided by the solvent cement connecting the body castingI and top casting 4 renders the instrument very strong and of a unitaryresonant character.

The playing of my musical instrument construction, as shown in Figs. 1and 2 of the drawings, is conventional, and it will be here noted thatthe hollow neck of the instrument pro' vided by the arcuatecross-section neck portion 2 of the body casting I promotes properbalance of the instrument during playing, and thereby provides a certainease of handling of the instrument by the left hand during the fingeringof the strings on the frets 32, shown best in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combinationand arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited tothis particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire toinclude in the scope of my invention the construction, combination andarrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to,secure by Letters Patent isi 1. In a musical instrument construction, abody casting having an arcuate in cross-section neck integral therewithand a top casting provided with an integral finger-board=thereon, havinga flange engageable with the-inner side wall =of -said body "castingcemented to said inner side-=wall, said neck 'portion andsaidfinger-"board portion 2. Ina musical instrumentconstruction, a body 1casting having anarcuate in cross-section neck integral therewith; andatop casting-provided with an integral finger-board thereon, having aflange engageable with the inner side wall of said body casting cementedto said inner side wall, said top casting provided with an integralchannel-shaped in cross-section bridge portion, having a plurality ofslots therein, having enlarged opening portions at the rear of saidchannel-shaped in crosssection bridge portion, said neck portion of saidbody casting having longitudinal stiffeners therein, one of saidstiffeners extending into and integral with the body portion of saidbody casting.

3. In a musical instrument construction, a plastic body casting havingan arcuate in crosssection neck portion, a body back portion andintegral side wall portions, a top casting having an angular flangespaced from the outer edges thereof, engageable with the inner side wallof said body casting and adhered to said inner side Wall, said topcasting having a finger-board portion integral therewith adhered to saidarcuate in cross-section neck portion of said body casting, saidfinger-board and said neck portion provided with head portions adaptedto receive keys.

4. In a musical instrument construction, a plastic body casting havingan arcuate in cross-section neck portion, a body back portion andintegral side wall portions, 2. top casting having an angular flangespaced from the outer edges thereof, engageable with the inner side wallof said body casting and adhered to said inner side wall, said topcasting having a finger-board portion integral therewith adhered to saidarcuate in cross-section neck portion of said body casting, saidfinger-board and said neck portion provided with head portions adaptedto receive keys, boss portions integral with one of said head portionsand adhered to the other of said head portions.

5. In a musical instrument construction, a plastic body casting havingan arcuate in cross-section neck portion, a body back portion andintegral side wall portions, a top casting having an angular flangespaced from the outer edges thereof, engageable with the inner side wallof said body casting and adhered to said inner side wall, said topcasting having a finger-board portion integral therewith adhered to saidarcuate in cross-section neck portion of said body casting, saidfinger-board and said neck portion provided with head portions adaptedto receive keys, boss portions integral with one of said head portionsand adhered to the other of said head portions, longitudinal andtransverse reinforcing ribs integral with the back portion of said bodycasting, said top casting provided with a sound hole therein, havingreinforcing ribs therearound.

6. In a musical instrument construction, a plastic body casting havingan arcuate in cross-section neck portion, a body back portion andintegral side wall portions, a top casting having an angular flangespaced from the outer edges thereof, engageable with the inner side wallof said body casting and adhered to said inner side wall, said topcastinghaving a finger-board portioniintegral therewith adhered to saidarcuate in cross-section neck portion of saidbody cast ing, saidfinger-board and said neck portion provided with head portions adaptedto receive keys, boss portions integral with oneof said head spartionsand adhered-to the-otherof said head'portions, longitudinal andtransversereinforcing ribs integral with-the back portion of'said bodycast- "ing, saidtop casting provided with a sound hole therein, havingreinforcing ribs therearound, said top casting provided withtransversereinforcing.-

ribs adjacent said sound hole.

7. In a musical instrument construction, a cast instrument top having anintegral normally inverted channel-shaped in cross-section bridgethereon, provided with string-receiving slots in one normally verticalside wall thereof communicating with the inner side of said top, saidslots having enlarged open portions near instrument top for receivingstring knots.

8. In a musical instrument construction, a cast instrument top having anintegral normally in-- verted channel-shaped in cross-section bridgethereon, provided with string-receiving slots in one normally verticalside wall thereof communicating with the inner side of said top, saidslots having enlarged open portions near instrument top for receivingstring knots, said channel-shaped in cross-section bridge having a barat the normally upper side thereof integral therewith, spaced from saidslots, over which said strings may be engaged.

9. In a musical instrument construction, a musical instrument neck head,comprising a pair of spaced head portions adhered to each other, one ofsaid head portions having integral hollow bosses abutted and adhered tothe other of said head portions, metal bushings extending through saidhollow bosses, and keys revolubly mounted in said bushings.

10. In a musical instrument construction, a body casting having anarcuate in cross-section neck integral therewith and a top casting provided with a finger-board thereon, having a flange engageable with theinner side wall of said body casting cemented to said inner side wall,said body casting having a back portion and side wall portions andreinforcing ribs at the transition of said back portion and said sidewall portions for reinforcing the same.

11. In a musical instrument construction, a body casting having anarcuate in cross-section neck integral therewith and a top castingprovided with a finger-board thereon, having a flange engageable withthe inner side wall of said body casting cemented to said inner sidewall, said body casting having a back portion and side wall portions andreinforcing ribs at the transition of said back portion and said sidewall portions for reinforcing the same, said ribs integral with saidback portion and said side wall portions.

12. In a musical instrument construction, a body casting having anintegral neck portion, and

. a top casting provided with an integral fingerboard fixed to said bodycasting, said neck portion and said fingerboard portion provided withhead portions contiguously fixed to each other, one of said headportions provided with integral boss portions adhered to the other ofsaid head portions, said boss portions having openings extendingtherethrough, and keys in said openings.

GEORGE A. FINDER.

(References on following page) file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Kopp July 8, 1890 Borcur Mar. 22,1898 Kindig July 25, 1899 Schultz Feb. 8, 1916 Horton July 19, 1927Swanson May 8, 1928 Number Number Name Date Puoina Dec. 1, 1931 YoungOct. 4, 1932 Moertel Jan. 9, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date GermanyNov. 26, 1889 OTHER REFERENCES Acrylic Resins Find IndustrialApplications,

Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, September 1937, vol. 44, No. 9,pages 468-471.

